Davido Tops Nominees List as AFRIMMA Awards Stage Comeback

The African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) has revealed the contenders for its 2026 edition, where Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, stands out with an impressive five nominations. This announcement signifies the highly anticipated return of the prestigious awards event following a two-year break, with promises from the organisers for an enhanced and more inventive experience for global African music enthusiasts.

Anderson Obiagwu, the founder of AFRIMMA, shared the list of nominees via Instagram on Wednesday. He clarified that the two-year pause was essential for refining the event and ensuring a more captivating presentation. Obiagwu stated, “For the last two years, AFRIMMA took a break to make it even bigger and create something sensational. AFRIMMA is coming back bigger and better this year. It’s going to be epic, one of a kind.”

Obiagwu further disclosed that the 2026 event will debut the inaugural AFRIMMA music festival in Dallas, Texas. This festival is set to showcase a rich array of performances, diverse food stalls, fashion displays, and various entertainment forms from across the African continent. He elaborated, “This year, we’re adding a music festival, the biggest ever in Dallas. There will be several food vendors, fashion vendors, as well as some of the biggest dancers and musicians from different parts of Africa.”

Davido’s five nominations place him at the forefront, spanning prestigious categories like Artist of the Year, Best Male West Africa, Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, and AFRIMMA Album of the Year. Additionally, his successful joint track with Omah Lay, 'With You,' secured nods in both the Best Collaboration and Song of the Year categories.

Close behind Davido are other prominent nominees such as Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, and Ghana’s Black Sherif, each garnering four nominations. Among female artists, South Africa’s Tyla leads with three nominations, and Nigeria’s Tems received two. The Best Influencer award category includes names like Peller, Carter Efe, Nasty Black, and Sabinus. Meanwhile, actors Timini Egbuson, Uzor Arukwe, Bimbo Ademoye, and Uche Montana are among those recognized in the Best Actor category.

Both the AFRIMMA 2026 awards ceremony and the accompanying music festival are slated to take place on September 12, 2026, at the Annette Strauss Square in Dallas, Texas. The comprehensive list of nominees is provided below:

1. Best Male West Africa

Davido (Nigeria)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

BNXN (Nigeria)

Rema (Nigeria)

Asake (Nigeria)

Didi B (Ivory Coast)

Djodje (Cape Verde)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Ruger (Nigeria)

Dino Santiago (Cape Verde)

2. Best Female West Africa

Hadzi Vodushi (Ghana)

Tems (Nigeria)

Josey (Ivory Coast)

Viviane Chidid (Senegal)

Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Moliy (Ghana)

Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Mariam Ba Lagare (Mali)

Teni (Nigeria)

Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

3. Best Male East Africa

Lij Michael (Ethiopia)

Marioo (Tanzania)

Eddy Kenzo (Uganda)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Juma Jux (Tanzania)

Bien (Kenya)

Mbosso (Tanzania)

Joshua Baraka (Uganda)

Single Dee (South Sudan)

Barnaba (Tanzania)

4. Best Female East Africa

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

Veronica Adane (Ethiopia)

Bridget Blue (Kenya)

Zuchu (Tanzania)

Nikita Kering (Kenya)

Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)

Njerae (Kenya)

Winnie Nwagi (Uganda)

Salemia (Ethiopia)

5. Best Male Central Africa

Matias Damásio (Angola)

Dadju (DR Congo)

TayC (Cameroon)

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)

Calema (São Tomé & Príncipe)

Gims (DR Congo)

Gerilson Israel (Angola)

Ko-C (Cameroon)

6. Best Female Central Africa

Anna Joyce (Angola)

Rebo (DR Congo)

Krys M (Cameroon)

Blanche Bailly (Cameroon)

Cindy Le Coeur (DR Congo)

Espoir La Tigresse (Gabon)

Jessy B (Republic of the Congo)

Emma’a (Gabon)

7. Best Male Southern Africa

Scott Maphuma (South Africa)

Nutty O (Zimbabwe)

Yo Maps (Zambia)

DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)

Zeze Kingston (Malawi)

Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

William Last KRM (Botswana)

Kabza De Small (South Africa)

8. Best Female Southern Africa

Mawhoo (South Africa)

Tamy Moyo (Zimbabwe)

Charma Gal (Botswana)

Babalwa M (South Africa)

Hanna (Zimbabwe)

Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

Bombshell Grenade (Zambia)

Makhadzi (South Africa)

Tyla (South Africa)

9. Best Male North Africa

Wegz (Egypt)

Stormy (Morocco)

Adviser (Mauritania)

Amr Diab (Egypt)

Marwan Moussa (Egypt)

ElGrandeToto (Morocco)

DJ Snake (Algeria)

Cheb Momo (Algeria)

10. Best Female North Africa

Marwa Loud (Morocco)

Chirine Lajmi (Tunisia)

Manal (Morocco)

Souhila Ben Lachhab (Algeria)

Sherine (Egypt)

Latifa (Tunisia)

Kenza Morsli (Algeria)

Zina Daoudia (Morocco)

11. Crossing Boundaries with Music Award

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Aya Nakamura (Mali)

Rema (Nigeria)

Davido (Nigeria)

Toby Nwigwe (Nigeria)

Flavour (Nigeria)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)

Odeal (Nigeria)

12. Best Newcomer

Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)

Mavo (Nigeria)

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

6uff (Nigeria)

Lava Lava (Tanzania)

Florito (Angola)

Toxic Lyrikali (Kenya)

Fola (Nigeria)

13. Artist of the Year

Asake (Nigeria)

Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)

Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Rema (Nigeria)

Tyla (South Africa)

Tems (Nigeria)

Davido (Nigeria)

Bien (Kenya)

14. Best Gospel

Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)

Prosper Germoh (Cameroon)

Christina Shusho (Tanzania)

Miguel Buila (Angola)

Bidemi Olaoba (Nigeria)

Deborah Lukalu (DR Congo)

Joel Lwaga (Tanzania)

Moïse Mbiye (DR Congo)

Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye (Nigeria)

15. Best Female Rap Act

Rosa Ree (Tanzania)

Eno Barony (Ghana)

Bombshell Grenade (Zambia)

Freda Rhymz (Ghana)

Moozlie (South Africa)

Ssaru (Kenya)

Ami Yerewolo (Mali)

Candy Bleakz (Nigeria)

16. Best Male Rap Act

Odumodublvck (Nigeria)

Jeriq (Nigeria)

Ninho (DR Congo)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

A-Reece (South Africa)

6uff (Nigeria)

Blxckie (South Africa)

Yung Lunya (Tanzania)

Phyno (Nigeria)

Himra (Ivory Coast)

17. Best Collaboration

Bien & Alikiba — Finale

BNXN & Sarz — Back Outside

Davido & Omah Lay — With You

Diamond Platnumz ft. Juma Jux — Joy

Patoranking ft. Ruger — Shake That

Fally Ipupa ft. Wizkid — Jam

Jazzworx & Tukuthela — Bengicela

Flavour ft. Baaba Maal — Afroculture

Marvais Djo ft. Kano Choir — Pile

18. Song of the Year

Davido ft. Omah Lay — With You

BNXN & Sarz — Back Outside

Bien & Alikiba — Finale

Diamond Platnumz ft. Juma Jux — Joy

Moliy ft. Shenseea & Skillibeng — Shake It to the Max

Black Sherif — So It Goes

Ciza — Isaka (6AM)

Young Jonn — Elumelu

DopeNation — Kakalika

Marvais Djo ft. Kano Choir — Pile

DJ Kedjevara — Ça Fait Mal

19. Best Video Director

Hanscana (Tanzania)

Director Pink (Nigeria)

Elias Belkader (Algeria)

Mateo Da Silva (Cameroon)

TG Omori (Nigeria)

Babs Direction (Ghana)

Jake Zaral (Zimbabwe)

Dammy Twitch (Nigeria)

20. Best DJ Africa

DJ Spinall (Nigeria)

DJ Dollar (Senegal)

Uncle Waffles (South Africa)

DJ Obi (Nigeria)

DJ Tunez (Nigeria)

DJ Sly King (Ghana)

DJ Commissioner Wysei (Nigeria)

DJ Nelasta (Angola)

Major League DJs (South Africa)

DJ Kaywise (Nigeria)

DJ Dope Caesar (Nigeria)

DJ Moh (Kenya)

21. Best African DJ USA

DJ Kuncept (Nigeria)

DJ Akua (Ghana)

DJ Prince (Nigeria)

DJ Bode (Nigeria)

DJ Chelsea (Canada)

DJ Shinski (Kenya)

DJ Birame BB L’amour (Ivory Coast)

DJ Oreo (Nigeria)

Lex and Answer (Zimbabwe)

DJ Nani (Nigeria)

22. Music Producer of the Year

Masterkraft (Nigeria)

Andre Vibez (Nigeria)

207 (Uganda)

Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)

Magicsticks (Nigeria)

MOG Beatz (Ghana)

Xduppy (South Africa)

London (Nigeria)

23. Best African Dancer

Masaka Dance Kids (Uganda)

Incredible Zigi (Ghana)

Poco Lee (Nigeria)

Ghetto Kids (Uganda)

Angel Nyigu (Tanzania)

Hope Ramafalo (South Africa)

Wet Bad Gang (Angola)

Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)

Hooliboy (Ghana)

24. Best Male Reggae/Dancehall

Valiant (Jamaica)

Mr. Killa (Grenada)

Patoranking (Nigeria)

Shatta Wale (Ghana)

Skillibeng (Jamaica)

Vybz Kartel (Jamaica)

Popcaan (Jamaica)

Kranium (Jamaica)

25. Best Female Reggae/Dancehall

Shenseea (Jamaica)

Jada Kingdom (Jamaica)

Moliy (Ghana)

Spice (Jamaica)

Koffee (Jamaica)

Lila Iké (Jamaica)

Shaneil Muir (Jamaica)

Vanessa Bling (Jamaica)

26. Best African Group

Disco Misr (Egypt)

Calema (São Tomé & Príncipe)

Show Dem Camp (Nigeria)

Toofan (Togo)

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